Overhead door construction



y 25, 1948- w. A. NORBERG 2,442,309

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 51, 1946 Patented May 25 1948UNITED PAT-Eur oer-roe Application zlanuaryrsl, 1946, Serial No.644;"617

This invention relates to "overhead '-door- *construction and the like.'Theinvention willbe ob' viously applicable to other similar uses;-

In the use of overhead door 'structures'andthe like wherein afiexible'lifting element i's em'iiloyed in conjunction with acounterbalance, etc, to facilitate the raising of the door,considerable'diificulty has been experienced-Withthe-wear and breakageof'the flexibleelement.'particularlynear its point of :connection'withthe lower po'rtiondf the door. The irregular andh'eavy'strains "thrownupon the cable or other flexible elementat this point of junction, andparticularlywhere it approaches a sheave or rotary guidamember; areextremely hard upon the metal structure'o'fthe element because it isusually-bentor-in an angular position at the tiinesuch strainsare'imposed; The result has been a fraying'orbreakingof the cable orother element and the rendering of the door construction out of orderfor the period required for repair or substitution of a newcable.

An object of the invention -is to-overcome the above disadvantages and'to providea'structu-re in which the cable is'not subjectedto the bentor angular positions described during the lifting operations. A further"object is t'o provide a structure wherein the cable connections arepivotally carried by a saddle mounted upon the door for turningmovement" with 'the fieiiible-element so as to relieve the flexibleel-ement of'distortion or bendingmovement during the door elevatingor descending operaitions. A' furtherob ject is to provide a bra-cketand flexibleel-ement connecting structure wherein the 'reller shaft isemployed for mounting asaddl'e to'whieh the flexible element is securedand which saddle proiiides a rotatable structure which will ermitliftingfo'f the door while at the same time-adjusting itself so as toremain in alignment with the li fting el'ement when the door bottomswings away from vertical alignment with such "element; Gther specificobjects and advantages will appear a's the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in'a preferred embodiment, by theaccompanying drawing; in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view ertheibrac'he't and connecting structure embodying my iii-vention, thestructure being shown separated-from the door; Fig. 2, a perspectiveview of the-saddle member carried by the shaft of thebi'aclret; 3, abroken side view of= the-doorstruoture and track and liftingmechanism'associatedftherewith, part of the track being broken awayto-show the improvedconnecting means; Fig. 4, a viewsimuar Fig.5.

In the illustration "given, A designates a door; B; a track 1 structuretherefor; C, lifting mecha- 'n'ism; and D, -the-braeket and connectingstructure employed for joining the flexible "lifting member 'to thedo'or.

The-door Amaybe or any suitable constructi'on. It may consist of asingle panel 'ora :multiple of panels. In the illust'ration-given,atleast three panels areshown, the panels being separated at thepointsindicatedfby the numeral l 0,

and the panels being connected by the usual hinges H carrying a roller12 upon the hinge pin. Itwilhbe understood that any typeof hingeorroller-carrying structure may be employed. If desired, a guider01ler4-3may be supported at the upper end of the top panel.

The track structure '3 maybe of any suitable typeorconstructio'n.Intheillustration given, it comprises a "metal track member I4 securedto the'side wall of the building in which the door is mounted. Suchstructure is well :known. Two tracks are employed along marginalportions of the entrance to a=building; and the-doorhas rollers-atitssides enga'ged insuc'h tracks. By means of "the curved track, thedoormoves first in a vertical direction and 'thenis directed finally -to agenerally horizontal position alo'ngthe top of the -room*or.compartment.

Thei liftirig element C may be of any suitable construction. It maybeformed of 'chain, cable, or any other suitable material. ln'theillustration given, the element is in :theform 'of :a' cable whichpasses'over the rotary im'em'benor sheave I 5=and is guided thereby,Theunn'er "en'dofthe cable is connected 'to the usual counterbalancingmechanism (notshown').

The structural) herein consists of a bracket member for engaginga lowerbottom corner of the door,' 'a shatt'mounted therein, and a saddlecarriedby the shaft and provided with an "extension to which theflexible element "C is con nectedz The'brac'ket twin the illustrationgiven, consists 'o'f a flat 'w'b'iportion, with holes through whichfastening means may be extended for'con nectingiitfto the "door. Thebottom'portio'n of the bracketbn its front side is :provided withforweirdly-turned flanges H and f8 adapted toengage theicorner edgesaofthedoor'bottom. Spaced portions of the bracket member l6 are struck outand turned rearwardly to provide ears l9 which are perforated to receivethe shaft 20. The inner end of shaft 20 may be flattened to provide aretaining collar or edge 2|. A roller 22, preferably mounted upon ballbearings, is carried by the end of shaft 20.

The saddle structure 23 herein employed has a connecting means for theflexible element C and is preferably formed with side flanges .24 havingaligned openings 25 therein adapted to receive the shaft 20. The flanges24 are integrally connected by a bottom wall or web 26. One of the sideflanges 24 is projected forwardly to'provide an extension 21, as shownmore clearly in Figs. 2 and 6, and a pin 28 is carried by the extension.

In the illustration given, a collar 29 is fixed to 1 the pin 28 orformed integrally therewith. The end of the pin 28 is provided with anopening 30 through which a cotter pin 3| or other retaining means may bepassed.

Any suitable means for retaining the cable C upon the pin 28 may beemployed. In the illustration given, I provide a metal strip 32perforated at its lower end to receive the pin 28 and also perforatednear its top to receive a clamping screw 33. Opposite the metal piece 32is a clamping member 34, which is likewise perforated at its lower endto receive the pin 28 and also near its top to receive the clampingscrew 33. The cable C extends downwardly around the clamping screw 33and is doubled back, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, with the upper endof the clamping member 34 extending with a U-shaped curve about thecable. The clamping screw 33 preferably has its inner end threaded toengage a nut or the like, and rotation of the screw 33 by means of ascrew driver clamps the member 34 tightly about the looped cable end, Atthe same time, the members 33 and 32 are free to swing upon the pivotpin 28.

Operation In the operation of the structure, when the door is in itslowered or closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the liftingelement C is tensioned under the force of the counterbalancing mechanismand draws the extension 21 of the saddle member in a vertical direction.This movement causes the saddle 23 to swing upon the pivot pin 28 andthe forward end of the web portion 26 of the saddle engages the bracketl6. Lifting force therefore upon the element C tends to draw the doorupwardly because the saddle member can swing no farther in its movementtoward the bracket. This relation continues while the lower portion ofthe door is vertically aligned or in parallel with the lifting elementC.

When, however, the door, and particularly the bottom panel thereof,begins to leave its true vertical path and to diverge from a lineparallel with the lifting element C, the saddle member tends to swingmore and more upon pivot 20 so as to remain in alignment with theflexible lifting element C, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 4. Thus,there is avoided any angular or bent positioning of the element C byreason of its connection to the door and, instead, as shown in Fig. 4,the saddle member and the flexible element, with the connectionstherebetween, lie in a straight line.

As the lower portion or lower panel of door A swings away from itsparallel position with the lifting element C, the saddle 23 and thepivot means for connecting it with element C pass '4 through a series ofangular positions with respect to the door A but, with respect to theelement C, the saddle member swings as nearly as possible into a trueline with the element, reaching as it approaches the roller I 5 thestraight line arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 but over a relativelylong reach of the track. Thus, in the critical range where the door andlifting element C assume difierent and almost opposite directions, theconnecting means described is highly effective in relieving the elementC of any bending or twisting strains and protects it from fraying orbreaking. Further, the operation is accomplished with less noise andthere is less frictional resistance to thesmooth operation of the doormovement.

The improved connecting means occupies very little space and utilizesthe shaft already necessary for the supporting of the roller 22. Freepivotal movement of the saddle is provided in one direction, namely whenthe guide member C and door follow diverging paths, while at the sametime movement in an opposite direction is prevented by the bringing ofthe web portion 26 against the bracket or any portion thereof so as toassist in the lifting of the door through the force exerted by thelifting element C.

The bracket structure is easy to apply and forms substantially areinforced corner for the door bottom, while at the same time affordingintegral supports for the shaft with its roller and saddle members. Thecable may be readily attached or detached to the clamping members 32 and34 which pivot upon the pin 28.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a large number ofdetails as illustrative of one mode of employing the invention, it willbe understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable inmarginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and withwhich a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the liftingelement in its movements are employed, said connecting structurecomprising a bracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door andprovided with integral rearwardly-extending members, a shaft rotatablymounted in said members, a saddle member rotatably mounted on said shaftand provided with a forwardly-projected extension, and means forsecuring said cable to said extension.

2. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable inmarginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and withwhich a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the liftingelement in its movements are employed, said connecting structurecomprising a bracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door andprovided with integral rearwardlyextending members, a shaft rotatablymounted in said members, a saddle member rotatably mounted on said shaftand provided with a forwardly-projected extension, and pivotallymountedmeans carried by said extension for securing said cable thereto.

3. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable inmarginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and withwhich a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the liftingelement in its movements are employed, said connecting structurecomprising a bracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door andprovided with integral rearwardlyextending members, a shaft rotatablymounted in said members, a saddle member rotatably mounted on said shaftand provided with a forwardlyprojected extension, said saddle memberhaving a side flange projected to provide a lateral extension, a pincarried by said extension, and means for connecting said cable to saidpin and in rotatable relation therewith.

4. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable inmarginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and withwhich a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the lifting cablein its movements are employed, said connecting structure comprising abracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door and provided withrearwardly-extending members, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidREFERENCES cI'r'En The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,194,111 Blodgett Mar. 19, 19402,271,309 Rowe Jan. 27, 1942

